Commonwealth Consolidated Acts Commonwealth Consolidated Acts(a) a ballot paper for a Senate election is marked in accordance with subsection 239(2) or paragraph 269(1)(b); and
(b) one or more numbers, that are not disregarded under paragraph 269(1A)(b), are written in squares printed on the ballot paper above the line in relation to groups of candidates (each group being a preferenced group ).
(2) The ballot paper is taken to have been marked as if, instead of the numbers referred to in paragraph (1)(b):
(a) each candidate in a preferenced group was given a different number starting from 1; and
(b) candidates in a preferenced group were numbered consecutively starting with the candidate whose name on the ballot paper is at the top of the group to the candidate whose name is at the bottom; and
(c) the order in which candidates in different preferenced groups are numbered is worked out by reference to the order in which the groups were numbered on the ballot paper, starting with the group marked 1; and
(d) when all the candidates in a preferenced group have been
numbered, the candidate whose name is at the top of the next preferenced group
is given the next consecutive number.